Chippewas face many challenges

COLLEGE FOOTBALL RANKINGS: NO. 117 CENTRAL MICHIGAN

Expect there to be growing pains for a young Central Michigan team in 2018.

Graduation hit the Chippewas hard in the offseason, opening the door for several new faces to take on new leadership roles.

As a result, Cenral Michigan is ranked No. 117 in Orlando Sentinel college insider Matt Murschel’s preseason 2018 college football rankings. Murschel ranked all 129 Football Bowl Subdivision teams in the country. The Sentinel staff takes a closer look at a new team daily, counting backward from No. 129 to our projected No. 1 team.

Michigan

4 Central

John Bonamego (21-18 overall, entering fourth season; 21-18 overall)

8-5 overall, 6-2 in Mid-American Conference; tied for second in West Division

A late surge midway through last season saved what looked to be an otherwise disappointing year for the Chippewas. After winning just three times in its first seven games, Central Michigan put together a five-game winning streak to finish bowl eligible for the fourth consecutive season. The eight wins were the most in a season since 2009. NT D’Andre Dill, LB Malik Fountain, LB Alex Briones, CB Sean Bunting, TE Logan Hessbrook, OL Steve Eipper

There’s a good battle at the quarterback position, with several players vying to replace former Michigan grad transfer Shane Morris. Tony Poljan, a 6-foot-7 sophomore, is one who has caught the eye of the coaching staff.

Jonathan Ward returns after rushing for more than 1,000 yards in 2017. He took over the starting job five games into last season after Devon Spalding went down with an injury.

Central Michigan saw improvements on the defensive side of the football, with the Chippewas, allowing less than 28 points and 370 yards per game in 2017. The team retains two of its top three tacklers — linebackers Malik Fountain (89 tackles) and Alex Briones (83 tackles).

The top three 2017 Central Michigan receivers are gone.

Graduation hit the offensive line hard, with four of the five starters from last season exiting the program.

The secondary also must rebuild after losing all but one starter from 2017.

Central Michigan needs talented pieces acquired during the past few recruiting classes, including Poljan, to mature quickly to avoid a losing season.